Nissan ex-chair Ghosn’s wife fears his trial may be unfair

The wife of Carlos Ghosn, the former chairman of both Nissan and Renault, said Wednesday she is worried if her husband, detained in Japan on financial misconduct allegations, could get a reasonable trial, also expressed outrage over a justice system that dragged him into custody.

“This was a nightmare. We are ruined, our lives turned upside downagain. And we see no ending in sight. For he is on bail, and him to be rearrested, that is something. I am stunned,” Carole Ghosn said in a phone interview from New York.

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Carlos Ghosn, who headed Nissan Motor Co. for 20 decades, rescuing it from the brink of insolvency, was arrested in November and released on bond last month, but has been detained again on April 4.

His wife recalled the spectacle of his rearrest before this month, stating 20 prosecutors came into their Tokyo apartment in 5:50 a.m., once she was still in her pajamas, and captured her cellphone, passport and documents that defense attorneys were preparing for the trial.

Although such seizures might result in a mistrial in the U.S., prosecutors are allowed such activities in Japan, legal experts say. Raids and arrests are regular in Japan early morning.

“We’re concerned about a reasonable trial,” she explained. “They know what we had been likely as a defense, what we have.”

He’s been charged with falsifying financial documents in under-reporting his retirement compensation and with breach of trust in payments that were dubious. He says he is innocent, noting the compensation was never decided and saying the payments were legitimate.

In a video ready before his arrest, he detained some executives at Nissan of smacking him what he called fears they had merging with alliance partner Renault SA.

Nissan has said an investigation ousted Ghosn, detected wrongdoing and guaranteed to fix faulty governance.

The detention of ghosn was approved through but that may be extended farther. Prosecutors say the breach of trust allegations are brand fresh, and there is threat evidence might be destroyed.

Carole Ghosn said once her husband has been released on bond, that she will go back to Japan.

Like Ghosn is in solitary confinement, and can be interrogated by prosecutors daily. He has air a half an hour daily, but is not permitted outdoors over the weekend.

Carole Ghosn said that she was anxious about his health since he is not getting enough sunlight and has been affected by the detention.

She was recently questioned in a court. She declined to give details, but said there was little material to this. She’s not a suspect but agreed to be contested voluntarily.

She stressed that her husband is prepared for a fight, also said she had been proud of him.

“When you’re stuck in a situation that’s so unjust, it frees you up and you also wish to fight each moment that you possibly can because he knows how unjust it is, and he knows he is stabbed in the back,” she said.

“Anyone who’s put in an unfair position, you want to fight for your rights. You would like to battle for your own innocence. You wish to fight to clear your name.”